Locations/Centers

Decision Sciences Institute (DSI), located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island,
was created in May 1999 as the New England center of the Pacific Institute for
Research and Evaluation (PIRE). The long-term goal of DSI is to bring modern
quantitative and qualitative thinking to bear on the delivery of addictions and
mental health services and to advance clinical research and clinical policy
through the use of empirical studies.

Researchers at DSI have participated in some of the early landmark
studies on less intensive treatment for alcoholics. Dr. Stout, the Center
Director of DSI, led the data analysis team for the NIAAA-funded Project MATCH,
one of the largest randomized alcohol treatment studies ever conducted. Project
MATCH demonstrated that low-cost treatment, such as Motivational Enhancement
Treatment and Twelve-Step Facilitation treatment, is a viable alternative to
costlier clinical models. Currently, DSI researchers are also examining
treatment policy and treatment systems to determine how treatment quality and
organizational management affect clinical outcomes.

The application of advanced analytical methods to research problems in
behavioral health is another DSI focus. The foundations of psychiatric diagnosis
and treatment are surprisingly uncertain. Common psychiatric diagnoses, such as
obsessive-compulsive disorder, are frequently found to covary over time with
other diagnoses in a complex manner. Modern quantitative methods applied by DSI
scientists help to clarify some of these poorly understood patterns. Ongoing
major studies include those of anxiety disorders, personality disorders,
obsessive-compulsive disorders, and body dysmorphic disorders.

DSI researchers are also involved with the development of computer
simulation models that examine how tobacco, alcohol, and obesity policy changes
affect rates of prevalence, consumption, morbidity, and mortality. These models
have achieved both national and international recognition for their innovative
approaches and are being used for surveillance and evaluation by a number of
states and countries.

In the spirit of moving research to practice, DSI
scientists and program staff also provide training, technical assistance, and
evaluation services to national, state, and community provider agencies. We
assist organizations with data collection, program planning and implementation,
and evaluation. We also provide professional training and technical assistance
on a variety of important public health issues.

DSI Areas of Expertise

Substance abuse and mental health prevention, treatment, and services
research